GPD: Man arrested in attack on woman in apartment stairwell

Published: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 7:47 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:58 p.m.

Blood on a Gainesville man’s pocket knife led to his arrest on charges that he robbed and tried to sexually attack a woman late last month, police said.

Roderick Kantrel Pittman, 28, was accused of attacking a woman on Feb. 23 in the stairwell of an apartment complex at 3000 SW 35th Place, according to a Gainesville Police Department report.

Pittman was arrested Wednesday after an analysis showed that blood on his pocket knife was that of the victim, GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said in a press release.

“This vital link in the chain is more than enough evidence to positively identify Pittman as the attacker that night,” Tobias said.

The woman told police she was in the second floor stairwell of Building D of the Enclave Apartments around 3 a.m. when a man confronted her.

The man had a knife and silver handgun and demanded the woman’s belongings and then tried to rape her, police said.

She fought him and had a tooth knocked out and an injury to her right hand, according to a report. The attacker fled.

Police responding to the scene saw Pittman, who matched the description given by the woman.

Pittman was carrying a knife and condoms when he was detained, but the woman and a witness were not able to positively identify him, police said at the time.

Pittman, who had a cut on his arm that he said he got after jumping a fence, was arrested on a charge of loitering and prowling, according to a report.

After the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined that the woman’s blood was on the knife they found on Pittman, police began a search for him. They found him in a parking lot at 3611 SW 34th St. Wednesday and he was arrested on charges of attempted sexual battery and armed robbery.

<p>Blood on a Gainesville man's pocket knife led to his arrest on charges that he robbed and tried to sexually attack a woman late last month, police said.</p><p>Roderick Kantrel Pittman, 28, was accused of attacking a woman on Feb. 23 in the stairwell of an apartment complex at 3000 SW 35th Place, according to a Gainesville Police Department report.</p><p>Pittman was arrested Wednesday after an analysis showed that blood on his pocket knife was that of the victim, GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said in a press release.</p><p>“This vital link in the chain is more than enough evidence to positively identify Pittman as the attacker that night,” Tobias said.</p><p>The woman told police she was in the second floor stairwell of Building D of the Enclave Apartments around 3 a.m. when a man confronted her.</p><p>The man had a knife and silver handgun and demanded the woman's belongings and then tried to rape her, police said.</p><p>She fought him and had a tooth knocked out and an injury to her right hand, according to a report. The attacker fled.</p><p>Police responding to the scene saw Pittman, who matched the description given by the woman.</p><p>Pittman was carrying a knife and condoms when he was detained, but the woman and a witness were not able to positively identify him, police said at the time.</p><p>Pittman, who had a cut on his arm that he said he got after jumping a fence, was arrested on a charge of loitering and prowling, according to a report.</p><p>After the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined that the woman's blood was on the knife they found on Pittman, police began a search for him. They found him in a parking lot at 3611 SW 34th St. Wednesday and he was arrested on charges of attempted sexual battery and armed robbery.</p>